Switch and signal mechanism.



No. 628,636. .I Patented luly Il, |899. V. K. SPIDER.

SWITCH ANI) SIGNAL II'IE'CHNISM.

w (Application filed May 23, 1899.)

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No. 628,636. Patented July Il, |899.. V. K. SPIDER.

SWITCH AND SIGNAL MEGHANISM.

(Application filed May 23, 1899.)

QNo Model.;

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Atty.

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following is a specification.

UNITED STATES ATENT Fricke.

VIBE K. SPIOER, OF KENILWORTH, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO TI-IE UNION SWITCH VAND SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SVISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA.

SWITCH AND SIGNAL MECHANISM.

SPECIFIGATIONVformng part of Letters Patent No. 628,636, dated July l1, 1899. Application led May Z3, 1899. Serial No. 717,902. (No model.)

worth, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented or discovered certain new" and useful Improvements in Switch and Signal Mechanism, of which improvements the The invention described herein relates to certain improvements in safety-locks for switch or signal operating mechanism. In the operation of switch and signal mechanism it sometimes happens, especially at rail-` road-crossings, that the operator becomes con-` fused and after having set the switches and signals for a certain route will attempt before the train has passed over such route to4 change the signals and switches for a differ-` ent route and another train.

The object of the present invention is to provide a lock which will prevent the operation of the switch mechanism by the operator when set for a given route for a predetermined time, which shall be long enough to allow the operator to collect himself.

The invention is hereinafter more fully de` scribed and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a sectional elevation of a switch and signal operating mechanism of the usual type or con-` struction and having myimproved time-lock applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the machine. Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. l of a portion of a machine and having a modified form of locking mechanism connected thereto, and Fig. 4 `is a sectional detail view on an enlarged scale.

In the practice of my invention the signal and switch operating mechanism is constructed in the usual or any suitable manner and provided with interlocking devices of any suitable construction, such, for eX- ample, as that shown, consisting of a series of longitudinal yielding bars l l, circ. adapted to be shifted endwise through suitable connections by quadrants 2 2a, which are pivotally operated by the latch-rods 3 3 of the above the slidesis arranged the locking-bar 6, which is adapted to be shifted longitudinally by means of the beveled ends of the block 5 or 5f.

In the' orderly operation of such mechanism after the switch-lever has been shifted, as in Fig. l, to give a certain route the signal-lever la will be next shifted to clear the signal for such route. This'movement of the signal-lever will shift the slide la longitudinally, so as to bring the inclined end of its block 5b against the end of the locking-bar 6, and thereby shift the bar, so that its opposite end will lie in the path of movement of the block 5 on the slide l, and thereby prevent the movement of the slide in the direcsignal-lever is in clear position the switchlever cannot be understood and also that if the signal-lever be returned to normal position the switch-lever will be unlocked and can be returned to normal position. Unless some additional lock is provided it is possible for an operator to set the switches and signals for an oncoming train and then reverse the signals and switches when it is too late to stop the train before reaching the open switch.

Locks have been provided which will prevent the operator from changing a route once given until after a train has passed over said route. Under some circumstances it is desirable to prevent the passage of a train over a given route, and hence the operator should be free to change the signal without any change in the switch, as such change might result in a wreck. To this end an additional lock is provided for the switchmechanism, adapted to hold the switch mechanism as against any movement for a predetermined time after the signal has been returned to danger. While this lock may be applied to any part of the s\\'itcl1-operating mechanism,-it is most conveniently applied to a locking-bar, and preferably to oneemployed for that purpose only. The essential features of this lock are a capability of being moved to operative position on the shifting of the signal to clear position and its retention in such position for a predetermined time after the IOO signal has been returned to danger. A convenient means for thus locking the switch mechanism consists of a locking-bar 7, adapted to be shifted into the path of movement of a block 5 on the switch-slide 1. The shifting locked to a pinion 24, secured to the shaft 22 bya pawl 25. The pinion 24 intermeshes with a pinion 26, keyed on the shaft 27, on which is secured a toothed escapement-wheel 28. The rotation of this wheel is controlled and holding of the locKing-bar can be effectedby a longitudinally-movable bar 8, arranged in suitable guides in the rear of the lockingbar 7 and in such relation thereto that when the bar S is in normal or lowered position a notch or recess 9 in its edge will permit of the shifting of the locking-bar 7 out of the line of `movement of the block 5 on slide 1; but when shifted to operative position the locking-bar 7 will be shifted and held in locking position in front of block 5. The shifting of 'the locking-bar to locking position is preferably effected by incl'ining or beveling the lower wall of the notch or recess 9, as shown in lFigs. 1 and 3. A convenient means for raising the bar `S to locking position is shown in Fig. 1, and consists of a push-rod 10, arranged in suitable guides on the frame of the machine and adapted `to be operated as 'the signal-lever is shifted from normal position by a bell-crank lever 11. One arm of thislever 11 is provided with a pin or friction-roller engaging a slot 12 in the lower end of the rod 1 0, and the opposite end of the lever is connected in any suitable manner--as, for example, by a rod Y13-to the signal-lever 4, so that when the signal-lever is shifted 'from normal position the .push-rod, and with it the bar, will be raised, thereby shifting and locking the locking-bar 7 in frontof the 'block 5 in switch-slide 1.

The movement of the sliding bar 8 to unlocking position can be controlled in many Ways-as, for example, that shown in Fig. 1, wherein the sliding bar is shown as provided with a piston 14, fitting within a cylinder 1,5, which is open at its lower end. The head 16 of the cylinder is provided with ports 17 for the escape of airas the piston is raised, .but are controlled or closed by a valve 18 to prevent anyinflowof air through said ports. A regulated infiow of air is permitted through a port or passage formed in the block 19, screwing into the head of the cylinder, the quantity of air owing into such port being controlled by the screw 20. understood that so 'long as a vacuum is maintaineda'bove the piston the latter will be held in its raised position, but will move down so soon as airis admitted, the speed of downward movement being proportional to the volume of 4air flowing into the upper end of the cylinder. Hence by adjusting the screw 20 the piston, and with it the sliding bar 8, can be rheld in locking position forany desired length of time, the time being lengthened or decreased by adjusting the screw 20.

Isn the construction shown in Fig. 3 the sliding bar 8 is provided on one side witha series of teeth engaging a pinion 21 on the shaft 22. The ratchet-wheel 23 is formed integrally with or secured to the pinion and is adapted to 'be It will be readily by the escapement-lever 29. As the sliding` bar 8 is raised by the operation of the signallever 4L the pinion 21 and ratchet-wheel 23 will rotate loosely on the shaft 22, the pawl 24 sliding over the teeth of the ratchet-wheel. When the sliding bar is drawn down by the weight 30 on its lowerend, the movement of the pinion 21 will be reversed and will be locked to the pinion 24 by the pawl, thereby causing the pinion 26 and the escapement mechanism to be brought into operation. It is apparent that the rate of descent of the sliding bar 8 will be entirely controlled by this escapement mechanism, whichcan be adjusted to permit any desired speediof movement of thevslide.

Under the term time -lock as herein used I desire to include any mechanism'which is adapted to lock and prevent the operation of a switch-operating mechanism for a predetermined time, whether the unlocking be effected at the end of such period by the automatic movement of the locking mechanism or by a manually-operated mechanism.

`Vhile for purposes'of 'illustration and description I have shown and described herein two forms of time-locks and desire to include under the broad terms of the claims lthem as well as other modifications whichl will readily suggest themselves to the skilled mechanic, the specific form or construction of mechanism illustrated in Fig. 2 will be specifically claimed in an application filed of `movement of the signal mechanism, substantially as set forth.

In a switch and signal mechanism, the combination kof a switch-operating mechanism, a signal-operating mechanism, a'lock operated by the signal mechanism for holding the switch mechanism in reverse position and means for controlling of the lock to vnormal or unlocked position, substantially as set forth.

4. In a switch and signal mechanism, the combination of a switch-operating mechanism, a signal-operating mechanism, a lock for the switch mechanism adapted to be shifted by the signal mechanism to lockingposition and antomatically-operating mechanism controlling the return movement of the lock, substantially as set forth.

IOO

IIO

5. In a switch and signal mechanism, the combination of a switch-operating lever, a signal-operatin g lever, an interlocking mechanism, and a time-lock applied to one of the parts of the interlocking mechanism controlling the movement of the switch-lever, substantially as set forth.

6. In a switch and signal mechanism, the combination of a switch-lever, a signal-lever, interlocking mechanism, a bar adapted to be shifted by the signal-lever into locking engagement with one of the parts of the interlocking mechanism controlling the m ovement of the switch-lever, and mechanismV for maintaining such engagement for a predetermined time, substantially as set forth.

7. In a switch and signal mechanism, the combination of a switch-lever, a signal-lever, interlocking mechanism, a lock adapted to be shifted by the signal-lever into engagement With one of the parts of the interlocking mechf'tially as set forth.V

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

VIBE K. SPICER.

Vitnesses:

E. T. BARNES, J. W. PEcK. 

